New Yorkers trapped in abusive marriages because they cannot afford to get divorced may get relief under a new city council program providing free legal assistance to domestic violence survivors. In most cases, New Yorkers are not entitled to free legal representation for divorce. And for domestic violence survivors struggling to afford housing and custody of their children, paying fees for a divorce lawyer is out of the question. Contested ones, which most domestic violence cases are, can take four to five years. As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Ayala said, she knows the role divorces can play in abusive relationships.